Boat anchor



Nov. 1, 1955 o. H. JOHNSON BOAT ANCHOR Filed Jan. 28, 1952 INVENTOR WM; G. M M w H F A g United States Patent BOAT ANCHOR Olaf H. Johnson, Oakland, Calif. Application January 28, 1952, Serial No. 268,613

2 Claims. (Cl. 114-208) The invention relates to a boat anchor for use with smaller vessels.

A primary object is to provide an anchor which is both settable and releasable in a particularly certain and effective manner.

Another object is to provide an improved anchor hav ing its stock at its aft end.

A further object is to provide an anchor having a fluke element which is selectively operative at opposite sides of the longitudinal shank axis in accordance with a deposited disposition of the anchor for its setting.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth or be apparent in the following description of a typical embodiment thereof, and in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top perspective view of an anchor embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a top view of the anchor, portions of the structure being broken away.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the anchor in applied condition.

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken at the line 4-4 in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, it will be noted that the present anchor 6 essentially comprises a planar shank element 7 of generally teardrop outline fixedly mounting a straight stock bar 8 at its wider aft end, and hingedly mounting a fluke element 9 adjacent its aft extremity. More specifically, the shank element comprises an elongated planar body Which is symmetrical about the longitudinal line of the shank and has the stock bar 8 fixed to its aft end in perpendicular intersecting relation to its plane and its longitudinal, or axial, line. The fluke element 9 is hinged to the shank element 7 at a point near and forwardly of its rear end for a limited rocking thereof about an axis which perpendicularly intersects the shank plane at said longitudinal shank line.

The present shank element 7 primarily comprises a continuous open and planar loop having its sides of uniform cross-section therealong and loosely engaged through a terminal ring 11 of a flexible anchor line 12 which may comprise a chain, as is shown. The aft shank portion 13 is of generally circular conformation to define an arcuate C-shaped crown portion of the shank, and the remaining shank portion 14 tapers forwardly from the ends of the crown portion to a terminal open return bend 15 which is arranged to permit the free movement of the terminal ring 11 around it and comprises the forward shank end. The stock bar 8 has an appropriate length somewhat exceeding the width of the fluke element 9 and is Welded, or otherwise integrally secured, to the extreme rear end of the shank crown portion 13 in crossing relation thereto.

A generally V-shaped member 16 is fixed within the loop of the shank crown portion 13 in the shank plane and in symmetrical relation to the shank axis. The point portion of the member 16 comprises an open bend 17 from which the member sides'18 extend obliquely rearwardly to their terminal attachment, as by welding, to corresponding crown points which are equally spaced from the common plane of the stock bar 8 and the shank axis. A tubular member 21, which is fixed to and within the bend 17 of the member 16, provides a pivot bearing for journalling a hinge pin 22 for connecting the shank and fluke elements for their relative rocking.

It will now be noted that the fluke element 9 comprises a pair of complementarily like fluke plates 23 each having a bill portion 24 extending from a base portion 25. In the present structure, the bill portions 24 of the fluke plates are of right triangular outline, extend coterminously from the forward edges of rectangular base portions 25, and have side edges 24 thereof aligned with side edges 25' of the base portions. As comprising parts of the fluke element 9, the base portions 25 of the fluke plates 23 are secured in mutually coplanar opposed spaced relation with their opposed side edges 25" receiving the tubular bearing member 21 of the shank 7 in closely centered position between them, and the hinge pin 22 has end portions thereof beyond the space between the fluke plates fixed to the plates, as by welding.

As particularly indicated in Figure 4, the pin 22 is diametrically slotted from its ends beyond its bearing portion to closely receive plate portions at the opposed plate edges 25" and be welded to the plates thereat, it being understood that the hinge pin 22, when extended through the bearing 21 and having its end portions fixed to the different fluke plates, functions as a spacer between the fluke plates 23 thereat. Near their mutually aligned rear ends, the fluke plates 23 are connected by a spacing member 26 which is formed and mounted generally as the hinge pin 22 for its fixing to the plates, and a similar spacing member 27 may connect the fluke plates 23 forwardly of the hinge pin 22 for further stifiening the fluke element 9 thereat.

It will now be noted that the hingedly attached fluke element 9 is so related to the shank element 7 that the fluke bill portions 24 may be swung between limiting positions at opposite sides of the shank line as determined by the engagement of opposite sides of the rear spacing member 26 with the different sides 18 of the shank part 16 which thereby operate as stops. The arrangement is essentially such that the bill portions of the fluke element, which is symmetrical with respect to the plane of the mounting shank and has its points equally spaced from said plane, is constantly directed forwardly with respect to the axis of hinging of the fluke element; in the present structure, the limiting permitted angle of swinging of the fluke element 9 with respect to the longitudinal line of the shank 7 is between 30 and 40 degrees, this angle being greatest for larger sizes of the anchor.

The drawings show an anchor structure in which the shank and fluke elements have preferred forms and proportions, both per se and with respect to each other. Thus, the C-shaped crown portion 13 of the shank extends for about one-fourth of the shank length as measured from the aft end of the shank and its width is slightly less than one-fourth of the shank length. With reference to the fluke element 9, the distance from its hinging axis at the hinge pin 22 to the tips of the bill portions 24 is substantially two-thirds of the distance from said hinging axis to the forward shank end at the bend 15, and is the same as the width of the element. The portion of the fluke element rearwardly of the hinging axis comprises about one-fifth of the over-all fluke length, and the rear fluke edge is disposed forwardly of the aft end of the shank loop to provide for its swinging to opposite sides of the common plane of the shank and hinging axes to engage a crown member 18 as a stop for limiting the swinging of the element with respect to the shank line or axis. Also, the distance of the hinging axis of the shank and fluke elements from the aft shank end is preferably between one-fifth and one-sixth of the entire shank length.

By reason of the specific form and construction of the described and illustrated anchor, it will be understood that the same is not only arranged for its particularly ready release from an operative relation to the bottom of a body of water, but is generally non-fouling by reason of the possible alignment of the fluke element with the shank line during its placement or removal, as well as by reason of its generally streamlined form. Noting that the present shank element 7 is shown as provided by shaping a length of round rod to provide its loop, welding the member 16 to and within the crown portion of the shank, and welding the bearing member 21 within the angle of the member 16, it will be understood that a shank assembly of the present proportions might be provided as a single piece by stamping the same from steel plate or the like to include the bearing bore for a hinge pin. Also, a fluke element having the proportions of the illustrated fabricated fluke element might be initially provided as a one-piece member by stamping it from sheet steel or the like with the ditferent fluke blade parts integrally connected by plate portions corresponding to the spacing members 26 and 27 of the illustrated embodiment, a connecting hinge pin for the shank and fluke elements then having its ends fixed to the fluke element after its insertion through the bearing bore of the shank element provided for the assembly.

Having the line ring 11 engaged in the bend 15 at the forward shank end of the illustrated anchor, a lowering of the anchor from a boat will first engage the stock bar 8 of the anchor with the bottom B, and its continued lowering will then permit a positioning swinging of the shank about the bar axis for a more or less horizontal disposal of the shank and a gravitational engagement of the bill points with the bottom. A subsequent forward pulling of the anchor line 12 will, by reason of the angular engagement of the fluke blades with the bottom, force the fluke bills obliquely into the material of the bottom for operatively setting the anchor in place, and the functioning of the anchor will continue as long as a forward pull is exerted on the shank by the anchor line, as when the boat is downstream from the anchor in moving water.

Release of an operative present anchor is effected by moving the boat over the anchor and more or less upstream for moving the line ring 11 along the upper shank side to engage the shank at its arched crown portion which is above the upper side 18 of the member 16, after which an upward pulling of the anchor line will readily lift the anchor from the bottom by reversedly withdrawing the fluke bills from their operative engagement in the bottom B. Should the anchor be more or less caught in rubbish or roots or rocks, it may be necessary to engage the ring 11 in its limiting rearward position in the acuteangled corner defined at the juncture of the uppermost part 18 with the part 13, as is indicated in Figure 3, for applying a releasing pull on the anchor in a substantially direct line with the bills.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the present boat anchor will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains. While I have described the structure and use of a form of my invention which is now considered to comprise a preferred embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the disclosure is primarily illustrative, and that such changes and developments .may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A boat anchor comprising, an elongated planar shank element of generally teardrop and symmetrical outline comprising an open loop having its sides tapering forwardly from a rear C-shaped crown portion to an open return bend at its forward end, a V-shaped member fixed to and within the crown portion of the loop and coplanar therewith in symmetrical relation thereto and having its sides extending rearwardly from its point to fixed terminal connections thereof to the crown portion, a fluke element having complementary and mutually coplanar and laterally spaced portions at opposite sides of the shank plane, a hinge pin connecting an interior point of the fluke element to the V-shaped member at its point for a relative swinging of the elements about an axis perpendicular to the shank plane and intersecting the longitudinal shank line, and means comprising portions of the shank and fluke elements mutually cooperative to limit the relative swinging of the shank and fluke ele ments.

2. A boat anchor comprising, an elongated planar shank element of generally teardrop outline comprising an open loop having its sides tapering forwardly from a rear crown portion to an open return bend portion at its forward end, a V-shaped member fixed to and within the crown portion of the loop in symmetrical relation thereto and having its sides extending rearwardly from its point to fixed connections thereof to the crown portion, a fluke element having complementary flat and mutually coplanar and laterally spaced portions for disposal at opposite sides of the shank with their plane perpendicular to the shank plane and unitarily connected by spacing members, a hinge pin connecting an interior point of the fluke element to the V-shaped member at its point for a relative swinging of the elements about an axis perpendicular to the shank plane and intersecting the longitudinal shank line, one of said spacing members on the fluke element being engageable with the sides of V- shaped member of the shank element to limit the relative swinging of the elements to a predetermined angle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,324,244 Foster Dec. 9, 1919 2,451,719 Danforth Oct. 19, 1948 2,490,423 Fearn Dec. 6, 1949 2,612,131 Benedict Sept. 30, 1952 2,651,277 Jenshak Sept. 8, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,880 Great Britain of 1884 119,397 Sweden July 19,1947 

